Thread: The role of bushes in pen turning

Hi Clint

The bushes that come with the mandrel are the right size for doing the slimline kits. Any other kits you will need the correct bushes for. Best of luck and don't forget to post your results.

cheers
WH

some kits use a different ID on the brass tube.
The bushes just pack it out so It will fit on a std mandril.
The bushes also give you a guide to what the finished OD of the timer (acrylic) should be so it fits nicely with the hardware parts of the pen when assembled.
Some kits may have 12mm one end and say 10mm at the other end for example.

Hope this helps.

Welcome to the dark side Clint, turning between centres is a much better way and Big Shed aka Fred on the forum sells the best.

Look forward to your first ones.

Originally Posted by ClintO

I've looked at some videos and it loks pretty straight forward in principle

Clint

It actually gets far more complex the more you get into it - but start where we all did and then more along to the more exotic finished pens.

As Sam said, if you are going to get serious about it, get Fred to make your turn between centre bushes as they produce a completely round blank after turning as opposed to the risk of an oval shape with a mandrel that usually ends up bowing.